Improvement in polishing-irons



H- J. GH'. :POliShl r0n 10.222,849. Patented Dec. 23, 187.9.-

lqvarlma UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICEl HENRY J. WELCH, OF CARTHAGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO EZRA HODGKINS AND ADELIA Il. PEOK, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN POLISHING-IRONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,849q dated December 23, 1879; applicaticn filed May 14, 1879.

To all whom (it may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY J UsTUs WELCH, of Carthage, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Polishing-Irons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l ofthe drawings is a representation of a plan view of the face or polishing-surface of the iron. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line y y of Fig. l.

This invention has relation to that class of polishing-irons having corrugated or roughened faces to give to the starched fabric the required polish or gloss.y

Experience has fully demonstrated that two things are indispensable in an iron used for the above purpose, viz: a sufficient dryingsurface and a combination of surfaces that can be made to bear directly upon the surface of the fabric, so that the drying and polishing can be done at one and the same time by holding the iron in a level and natural position.

The purpose, therefore, of the present invention is to produce an iron that will polish and gloss starched fabrics, level down the sur face, and dry out the moisture at the same time, while holding the iron in a natural and easy position, and in the quickest possible time with the least natural labor, and that will not in any respect injure or wear the fabric while being operated upon, nor wrinkle, roughen, or separate the folds of the goods during the process of polishing or glossing, as will be hereinafter described, and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, A reprel sents the iron, provided with a suitable 11andle, B. The iron A is slightly convex upon its under side or face, and has a drying-surface, a a a2. One or more rows of beads, b, are

formed upon the surface or face of the iron, as illustrated in Fig. lof the drawings, which polish and gloss the fabrics, while the surface a a. a2 is sufficient to dry out the moisture as fast as the polishing can be accomplished.

In the process of polishing or glossing by the action of the beads b, the drying-surface, which precedes the movement of the beads either backward or forward, lays a foundation for the polishing or glossin g qualities of said beads or rounded surfaces b. These beads b, as will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, occupy an elevated position on the face of the iron by reason of the general curvature of the beads, thus enabling the operator at once, by a simple depression or elevation of either end ofthe iron, to dry any particular part of the fabric down to a point where the beads will readily polish. Each of the beads,

when the surface of the iron is moved over the l fabric, causes a mark or line upon the starched surface thereof of the width of the hearingpoints of the summits of the beads, and these points are so arranged by their position on the face of the iron that the marks or lines are blended in one broad line 3o-extensive with the width of the rows of beads extending transversely acossQ the face of the iron. These beads may he either round, as shown, square, oblong, diamond shape, or other form, as desired, the object. being to adjust them more readily to the uneven surface of the fabric than can be done where the face of the iron is fluted throughout its entire surface.

An iron constructed according to my invention requires less pressure, and will do better polishing than can be done with the irons heretofore used, by reason of its immediate action on a small space; and this action being independent of the general curve of the iron'toV the right or lel't the beads will do the same execution when touching the fabric or cloth irrespective of the manner in which the iron is held, while a fluted iron, by reason of the length of the utes, is more dependent upon the manner in which the iron is held to accomplish the object ,of polishing or glossing, and the beads, set in the position as shown, will not wrinklethe cloth, but follow each other in direct lines,

touching the surface (although uneven) all the way.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The iron A, with beads b, and drying-surface a a a2, arranged upon each side of the hereunto subscribed my name in the presence rows of heads, substantially as and for the purof two witnesses. pose set forth.

2. The iron A, having the drying-surface a, l HENRY J' WELCH a co2 and the beads b arranged in double rows, Witnesses: as specified, and for the purpose described. EZRA HODGKINS,

In testimony that I claim the above I have rMARK A. PECK. 

